Paul Murphy Slams Government on Climate Targets, Data Centres, LNG
Paul Murphy challenged the Taoiseach over the government's climate record, saying the government is not on track to meet even half of the 51% emissions reduction target and accusing it of favouring polluters and tech companies. He pressed for clarity on commitment to the 51% target and for additional measures, warning that data centres and new LNG infrastructure pose urgent energy and emissions risks.
Paul Murphy reminded the Taoiseach of his speech in Belém at COP30 about listening to the science, telling the truth to citizens and urgent action. He argued the Taoiseach does not apply that same leadership at home.
Murphy said the government is failing to meet legally binding targets and claimed it is not on track to hit half of the 51% target. He accused the government of allowing "big polluters to call the shots" and of bending over backwards to tech companies.
He highlighted a projection that data centres may use up to 30% of the country's energy by the end of the decade and warned that this trend has significant implications for national energy use and emissions.
Murphy criticised support for new fossil fuel infrastructure, calling proposed LNG terminals the "dirtiest fossil fuel infrastructure possible," and argued that drastic action is required rather than foreign-facing rhetoric alone.
He asked whether the government remains committed to the 51% target and whether it will introduce additional measures. The Taoiseach replied that the government is committed, defended past steps on targets, stressed the value of tech-sector jobs, and argued an energy reserve and new facility are security imperatives given vulnerability in existing connectors.
Belém speech versus domestic policy
Paul Murphy reminded the Taoiseach of his speech in Belém at COP30 about listening to the science, telling the truth to citizens and urgent action. He argued the Taoiseach does not apply that same leadership at home.
Allegations on targets and polluters
Murphy said the government is failing to meet legally binding targets and claimed it is not on track to hit half of the 51% target. He accused the government of allowing "big polluters to call the shots" and of bending over backwards to tech companies.
Data centres and projected energy demand
He highlighted a projection that data centres may use up to 30% of the country's energy by the end of the decade and warned that this trend has significant implications for national energy use and emissions.
LNG and fossil fuel infrastructure concerns
Murphy criticised support for new fossil fuel infrastructure, calling proposed LNG terminals the "dirtiest fossil fuel infrastructure possible," and argued that drastic action is required rather than foreign-facing rhetoric alone.
Questions posed and government response
He asked whether the government remains committed to the 51% target and whether it will introduce additional measures. The Taoiseach replied that the government is committed, defended past steps on targets, stressed the value of tech-sector jobs, and argued an energy reserve and new facility are security imperatives given vulnerability in existing connectors.
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Transcript
Last week, Taoiseach, you made a fine speech in Belém. You spoke about the need to listen to the science, to tell the truth to citizens, for urgent action to meet climate targets. You said leaders must lead. This is at COP30. The problem is that you don't take your own advice when you're back at home. You lead a government which is on track to meet our legally binding targets by a country mile. As it currently stands, we're not even on track to hit half of our 51% target. You are allowing the big polluters to call the shots, bending over backwards to the tech companies, projecting that the data centres may use up to 30% of our energy by the end of this decade. You're in favour of new fossil fuel infrastructure, the dirtiest fossil fuel infrastructure possible, in the form of LNG terminals. We need drastic action as opposed to just words abroad. The question is, are you still committed to the 51% target? And if so, will you be launching new additional measures that are needed? Yes, we are. But these are legally binding targets that both government and Europe have imposed. I would argue that the last government did more than previous governments in terms of moving this forward and step changing the nature of the response. But it is very challenging. And I would disagree with your analysis. I mean, you kind of disparagingly refer to tech companies. Tech companies in this country put bread on the table of many families. We don't have workers here. We're not enthralled at any company or corporate headquarters. But I do value the thousands of jobs. I value the thousands of jobs in the country, in such companies, be they indigenous or be they multinational. You just dismiss them. It's as if work doesn't matter. Work matters. Well, are you saying to the workers that they should be laid off or we should reduce the investment in the companies? I have a question. And we will deal with that. And also in terms of the energy reserve, you're wrong. It's a security imperative that we develop an energy facility. We're dependent on two connectors, which are, from a security perspective, vulnerable. And I know you don't want to see any evil in terms of Russia's designs and so on, but that is a problem.